ANNEX 1
of the Commission Implementing Decision on the adoption of the Annual Action Programme
2015 for the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR)
Action Document for Supporting 110 Calls for Proposals targeting local civil society
through Country Based Support Schemes
1.
IDENTIFICATION
Title/Number
Supporting 110 Calls for Proposals targeting local civil society
through Country-Based Support Schemes (CBSS)
CRIS number: EIDHR
Total cost
Total estimated cost: EUR 82 750 000
Total amount of EU budget contribution
EUR 82 750 000
Aid method /
Project approach
Management
mode and
Direct management – Call for proposals
type of
Direct management – Procurement of services (Support Measures)
financing
DAC-code
15160
Sector
Human Rights and
Democracy
2.
RATIONALE AND CONTEXT
2.1.
Summary of the actions and its objectives
This Action Document sets out the implementation modalities of the EIDHR Country Based
Support Schemes (CBSS), which will be managed at country level by European Union
Delegations.
These 110 local calls for proposals will aim to implement the objectives 1, 2 and 3 set out in
the annex of the EIDHR regulation 2014-2020 and will target local civil society.
Objective 1 supports Human Rights and Human Rights Defenders in situations where they are
most at risk. Objective 2 supports other EU Human Rights Priorities, and objective 3 supports
Democracy.
2.2.
Context
Any actions under this Action Document shall respect and shall be implemented in
accordance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Furthermore,
actions shall be in line with all existing EU guidelines on human rights related issues, the EUs
Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy, and all other
relevant human rights policy documents.
The activities under this Action Document are embedded in the EU Human Rights Country
Strategies where they exist.
This Action Document is also a key tool to contribute to the implementation of the
Democracy Support Agenda for Action, including for the pilot delegations of this agenda.
2.3.
Lessons learnt
Country Based Support Schemes policy is a long-established element of the European
Union’s human rights and democracy policy under its external action and has been built on
experience with CBSS under the EIDHR Strategies 2007-2013 and with micro project
facilities under the previous European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights. It has
been the object of an in-depth evaluation in 2010. The evaluation showed that the CSSS
constitutes an important source of funding as it can work in a more flexible way, for example
without host country government consent. In this way it manages to target the more difficult
issues which can be hard to fund under other instruments.
2.4.
Complementary actions
The Delegation ensures the complementarity and synergies with other EU instruments. Other
thematic instrument, in particular the Civil Society component of the DCI (CSO-LA) often
offers good opportunities for synergies but also risk overlap if complementarity is not
safeguarded.
The issue of complementarity between geographic and thematic instruments is of particular
importance in the case of CBSS, as EIDHR can often be used to complement support under
the geographic instruments. Support for democracy and human rights under the geographic
instruments is used mainly to strengthen public institutions, though in a limited manner they
also target civil society organisations (CSOs). Under EIDHR, however, the key target group
are CSOs and priority is given, whenever possible, to more sensitive issues targeted by civil
society organisations, in line with the instruments’ added value of not relying on partner
governments’ consent. For example, in the context of the pre-accession process, the
complementarity focus of the EIDHR is on the role of the CSOs with an emphasis on areas
linked to the Copenhagen political criteria. This way, EIDHR complements support under
other instruments such as for example the structural dialogue. This search for
complementarity is fully in line with the Council Conclusions on Democracy Support Agenda
for Action.
A specific enhanced operational coordination is essential regarding the CSOs component of
the DCI, in particular the pillar in the areas of its support to the enabling environment of civil
society actors, mapping of CSO organisation and local call for proposals and CSO roadmaps.
Complementarity with actions funded under the IcSP and in particular Article 4 funded
actions aimed at providing support to in-country civil society actors in conflict prevention,
peace-building and crisis preparedness should be ensured by EU Delegations. Synergies will
also be ensured between the EIDHR and ECHO operations, as refugees and other
beneficiaries of humanitarian relief are often also victims of human rights violations that need
to be documented, registered and treated, while respecting the different mandates of
judicial/accountability mechanisms and humanitarian action. There will also be close
coordination with ECHO over projects on international humanitarian law (IHL) to ensure
complementarity and avoid overlap.
2.5.
Donor coordination
The Commission services within Delegations prepare their Calls for Proposals based on
consultation with civil society organisations, Member States and other donors, ensuring
complementarity and synergies with their actions.
2
3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
3.1.
Objectives
The objective of this action is to support civil society and human rights defenders in third
countries in working on human rights (political, civil, economic, social and cultural), and
democratisation, so as to:
i) pursue common agendas for human rights and democratic reform;
ii) build consensus on disputed or controversial areas of policy;
iii) enhance political representation and participation;
iv) enhance the inclusiveness and pluralism of civil society;
v) increase safety structures for human rights defenders;
vi) counter the worrying trends of shrinking space for civil society;
vii) support activities aimed at promoting the issues covered by EU Human Rights guidelines
and in the EUs Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy;
viii) enhance the rule of law and good governance.
3.2.
Expected results and main activities
The local thematic priority setting under the Human Rights Country Strategies, as agreed by
Delegations and Heads of Mission in the various countries, and local civil society
consultations will provide guidance for the selection of relevant fields of intervention.
Moreover, three key areas of the new EIDHR need to get further attention from EU
Delegations, in order that the aggregated financial support is in line with the Multiannual
indicative programming:
• Human Rights Defenders
• Economic and Social Rights
• Democracy support and promotion
Examples of fields of intervention (where and when these match local priorities):
–
support, protection and defence of human rights defenders;
–
support the fight against impunity, in particular civil society actions ensuring the
effective functioning of the International Criminal Court (ICC);
–
supporting gender equality (women’s rights, women in decision-making, right to
participate in peace-building and reconstruction processes, fight against violence and harmful
practices, etc.);
o supporting the rights of indigenous peoples e.g through activities to implement
the Outcome document of the United Nations’ World Conference on
Indigenous Peoples (September 2014)
o Supporting rights of persons belonging to minorities, people affected by caste
based discrimination, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender and Intersex
(LGBTI) people and other vulnerable groups;
–
–
supporting freedom of expression and freedom of religion or beliefs,
–
support to civil society organisations' actions and campaigns against the death penalty,
against torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment;
3
–
support for civil society organisations’ activities preparing the ground for elections
(e.g. civic and voter education, domestic observation, dialogue and training for political
actors) and post-election observation, including following up on the recommendations
formulated by the EU or the OSCE/ODIHR Electoral Observation Missions (EOM). In such
cases and where applicable, increased consistency with geographic election assistance
programmes is needed;
–
protection of the social, economic and cultural rights, especially for groups
particularly vulnerable to discrimination, such as the poor, women, children, indigenous
peoples, migrants and the rights of persons belonging to minorities.
–
support for the structure and operation of trade unions, enabling social dialogue
between different groups, developing mechanisms for exchange of opinions and democratic
dialogue.
Other priorities can be pursued if these are more pertinent to the local situation, and can
include getting civil society involved in, and contributing to, stronger regional human rights
mechanisms.
Specific outcomes could cover a very wide range of topics, such as (non-exhaustive list):
i) parliamentary agreements and government decisions, following concerted CSO campaigns,
to legislate on gender equality, on rights for indigenous peoples, on the abolition of the death
penalty, on prevention of torture, on new constitutional provisions for oversight of the
military, on the enforcement of provisions on child labour and/or violence against children, or
on the independent composition of the electoral commission; integration in the law and
enforcement of economic, social and cultural rights ;
ii) regular reporting from local civil society and indigenous peoples’ organisations on the
country’s international commitments on human rights, e.g. regular reports by a consortia of
civil society bodies on the Universal Periodical Review of countries at UN level, and on the
implementation of European Neighbourhood Policy action plans; an independent detailed
diagnosis of challenges to human rights and democracy, endorsed by leading civil society
stakeholders, monitoring and reporting of rights pertaining the UN Declaration on the rights
of indigenous peoples, reporting on the implementation of the International human rights
instruments that the country has ratified, including on economic, social and cultural rights;;
iii) broad consensus between groups with opposing interests on directions for legislation on
land reform and compensation, on the terms of reference and resources for a truth and
reconciliation commission; regular dialogues between CSOs divided on religious or ethnic
grounds and certain common activities launched; regular dialogues between CSOs, the
general public, government agencies, armed groups and other parties to conflict and certain
common activities launched;
iv) multi-party agreements and draft legislation, after CSO dialogues, for boosting women’s
participation in political life; party platforms that include commitments to enhance
transparency on electoral legislation; changes in the penal code; creation of an ombudsman
function; combating discrimination on any grounds; greater decentralisation;
v) new CSOs formed, membership development and activities driven on by the target group
itself. For example: AIDS orphans organising and playing an active role in subject CSO
4
umbrella bodies; special women’s officer and women’s section created within main trade
union, liaising with women NGOs and the media; strengthened participation of people with
disabilities in CSOs; national level coalitions of indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities,
campaigns for promoting anti-discrimination legislation, founding and strengthening of CSOs
engaging for the rights of LGBTI persons (this is a non-exhaustive list of examples);
vi) setting up and strengthening social partner organisations (trade unions, etc.).
3.3.
Risks and assumptions
Some projects implemented under this Action, take place in extremely difficult, dangerous
and volatile contexts. They are confronted with various political and physical risks that must
not be underestimated.
Given the sensitivity of the implementation of this Action in some countries and to guarantee
the security of local partners/applicants, special attention will be paid to the requirements for
confidentiality and security when needed.
3.4.
Cross-cutting issues
Cross-cutting issues for the implementation of this Action include: promotion of human
rights, gender equality, democracy, good governance, conflict prevention, children's rights
and indigenous peoples, environmental sustainability and combating HIV/AIDS, non-
discrimination, the rights of persons belonging to minorities, the rights of persons affected by
caste based discrimination, the rights of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
Delegations are encouraged to launch, as much as possible, at least the publication of the call
for proposals itself in local languages.
3.5.
Stakeholders
The Country Based Support Schemes (CBSS) are managed at country level by the
Commission through EU Delegations. The relevant section in each EU Delegation is asked to
define the most appropriate objectives within the areas described in the EIDHR regulation and
the appropriate eligibility criteria, and to formulate guidelines for local calls for proposals.
The applicants will be primarily civil society organisations with no geographical requirements
set
a priori. Given the nature of the objectives, however, the actions’ focus will be preferably
on in-country civil society organisations, which may wish to cooperate with regional,
European or other organisations and national public-sector institutions1.
Natural persons, entities without legal personality and, in exceptional and duly justified cases,
other bodies or actors not identified in this paragraph, are eligible for funding under the CBSS
when this is necessary to achieve the objectives of the instrument, as per article 11 of the
Common Implementation Regulation.
Projects will preferably be based on partnerships of civil society organisations or, where
justified, may require the close involvement of a range of in-country organisations and
stakeholders. Independent political foundations and national parliamentary bodies will
likewise be judged eligible to achieve the objectives of the EIDHR.
1
National public-sector institutions include National Human Rights Institutions.
5
4.
IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES
4.1.
Financing agreement
In order to implement this action, it is not foreseen to conclude a financing agreement with the
partner country, referred to in Article 184(2)(b) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012.
4.2.
Indicative operational implementing period
The indicative operational implementation period of this action, during which the activities
described in sections 3.2. and 4.3. will be carried out, is 60 months from the adoption of this
Action Document, subject to modifications to be agreed by the responsible authorising officer
in the relevant agreements. The European Parliament and the relevant Committee shall be
informed of the extension of the operational implementation period within one month of that
extension being granted.
4.3.
Implementation components and modules
4.3.1.
Grants: call for proposal (direct management)
4.3.1.1. Objectives of the grants, fields of intervention, priorities of the year and expected
results
The objective of this action is to support civil society and human rights defenders in third
countries in working on human rights (political, civil, economic, social and cultural), and
democratisation, as further explained in 3.1.
The local thematic priority setting under the Human Rights Country Strategies, as agreed by
Delegations and Heads of Mission in the various countries, and local civil society
consultations will provide guidance for the selection of relevant fields of intervention for the
specific local calls, as further explained in 3.2.
The expected result is a civil society that is strengthened in its work on promoting human
rights and democratisation. Examples of possible specific outcomes are further explained in
3.2.
The detailed specific objectives, fields of intervention, priorities and expected results will be
fixed in the Guidelines for each individual country call for proposal.
Grants awarded under the CBSS scheme are not expected to fall below EUR 50.000, except in
duly justified cases.
CBSS implementation should be done using to the maximum extent existing flexibilities as
well as use pragmatic modalities such as re-granting, program approaches, use of suspensive
clause in duly justified cases (as
inter alia the need to make efficient use of procedures,
biannual rhythm of calls and allocations, pooling of funds, targeted project, direct grant and or
follow-up grants.
4.3.1.2. Eligibility conditions
The eligibility criteria for applicants are the one defined in the Article 11.2 of Regulation
(EU) No 236/2014 on common rules and procedures for the implementation of the Union's
instruments for financing external action (CIR).
6
4.3.1.3. Essential selection and award criteria
The essential selection criteria are the financial and operational capacity of the applicant, as
well as the expertise of the applicant in the field of the call.
The essential award criteria are relevance of the proposed action to the objectives of the call;
design, effectiveness, feasibility, sustainability and cost-effectiveness of the action.
4.3.1.4. Maximum rate of co-financing
The maximum possible rate of co-financing for grants under this call is 95%.
The maximum possible rate of co-financing may be up to 100 % in accordance with Articles
192 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 if full funding is essential for the action to be
carried out. The essentiality of full funding will be justified by the responsible authorising
officer in the award decision, in respect of the principles of equal treatment and sound
financial management.
4.3.1.5. Indicative trimester to launch calls is the 3rd trimester of 2015.
Under the responsibility of the authorising officer by delegation, the recourse to an award of a
grant without a call for proposals is justified under Art. 6c(ii) CIR (direct award under the
EIDHR). In addition, direct grants may be awarded if a target country is in a crisis situation
referred to in Article 190(2) RAP; other exceptional and duly justified situations as per Article
190(1) RAP.
4.3.2.
Procurement (direct management) – Support Measures
The Commission, through EU Delegations, will be able to spend up to 10 % of the respective
annual operational country allocation on support measures accompanying the implementation
of country-based support schemes (to ensure information, outreach, evaluations, audits,
visibility of projects, exchanges of best practices, trainings including on Right Based
Approach to Development, actions to ensure the sustainability of projects). This 10% can also
be used to support the advocacy by Human Rights activists or defenders including their
capacity to attend and provide input to meetings out of the country as well as to support non-
EIDHR human right related activities. It is expected an average of 4 contracts per delegation
for a total of 110 countries.
The relevant section of EU Delegations should also use part of allocations for Support
Measures to publish the beneficiaries of the local calls for proposals and increase visibility of
the instrument.
4.4.
Scope of geographical eligibility
The geographical eligibility in terms of place of establishment for participating in
procurement and grant award procedures and in terms of origin of supplies purchased as
established in the basic act shall apply.
4.5.
Indicative budget
The total indicative amount for 2015 is
EUR 82,750,000.
The tentative list of countries and allocations for the CBSS 201 are in appendix of this Action
Document. This list can be adapted pending the results of call of proposals or the evolution of
third countries situations. Any remaining balance from one country allocation may be
reallocated to another country, preferably within the same region.
7
Module
Amount in EUR
thousands
4.3.1. – Call for proposals (direct management)
74,475
4.3.2. – Support Measures (direct management)
8,275
Totals 82,750
4.6.
Performance monitoring
The project will be monitored according to standard procedures. Project monitoring and
evaluation will be based on periodic assessment of progress on delivery of specified project
results and towards achievement of project objectives. Clear indicators will be identified.
Reporting will be done in accordance to the requirements set in the General Conditions.
Progress reports will be prepared every six months during the period of implementation of the
tasks. They will be provided along with the corresponding invoice, the financial report and an
expenditure verification report, if foreseen, defined in the General Conditions. There must be
a final report, a final invoice and the financial report accompanied by an expenditure
verification report, if foreseen, at the end of the period of implementation of the tasks.
Each report shall consist of a narrative section and a financial section. The financial section
will contain details of the time inputs of the experts, of the incidental expenditure and of the
provision for expenditure verification, if foreseen.
4.7.
Evaluation and audit
Where provided for in the applicable General Conditions, expenditure verification will have
to be submitted as part of the contract requirements. Evaluations of the results achieved may
be done by external experts hired by the European Commission as well as external audits at
the initiative of the Commission, if necessary.
4.8.
Communication and visibility
Communication and visibility of the EU is a legal obligation for all external actions funded by
the EU.
This action shall contain communication and visibility measures which shall be based on a
specific Communication and Visibility Plan of the Action, to be elaborated before the start of
implementation and supported with the budget of a particular project and/or with the budget
of Support Measures indicated in section 4.3.2 above.
The measures shall be implemented (a) by the Commission, and/or (b) by the contractor in
close cooperation with partner countries, grant beneficiaries and entrusted entities.
Appropriate contractual obligations shall be included in procurement contracts.
The Communication and Visibility Manual for European Union External Action shall be used
to establish the Communication and Visibility Plan of the Action and the appropriate
contractual obligations.
8
Appendix to Action Document 1
Proposed
Region
Country
Allocation
2015
Western
Balkans &
Albania
500,000
Candidate
countries
Western
Balkans &
Bosnia Herzegovina
1,000,000
Candidate
countries
Western
Balkans &
Former Yugoslav Republic
600,000
Candidate
of Macedonia
countries
Western
Balkans &
Kosovo*
500,000
Candidate
countries
Western
Balkans &
Montenegro
600,000
Candidate
countries
Western
Balkans &
Serbia
1,000,000
Candidate
countries
Western
Balkans &
Turkey
3,000,000
Candidate
countries
8
SUB TOTAL WB&CC
7,200,000
Sub total % of total CBSS
9%
ENPI Algeria
600,000
ENPI Armenia
900,000
ENPI Azerbaijan
1,100,000
ENPI Belarus
1,000,000
ENPI Egypt
1,500,000
ENPI Georgia
800,000
ENPI Israel
1,200,000
ENPI Jordan
700,000
ENPI Lebanon
600,000
ENPI Libya
500,000
9
ENPI Moldova
700,000
ENPI Morocco
1,000,000
ENPI Russia
3,000,000
ENPI Syria
2,000,000
ENPI Tunisia
1,200,000
ENPI Ukraine
1,000,000
ENPI
West Bank & Gaza
1,500,000
19
SUB TOTAL ENP
19,300,000
Sub total % of total CBSS
23%
Central &
Latin
Argentina
500,000
America
Central &
Latin
Belize
100,000
America
Central &
Latin
Bolivia
500,000
America
Central &
Latin
Brazil
800,000
America
Central &
Latin
Chile
300,000
America
Central &
Latin
Colombia
900,000
America
Central &
Latin
Costa Rica
300,000
America
Central &
Latin
Ecuador
400,000
America
Central &
Latin
Guatemala
700,000
America
Central &
Latin
Honduras
700,000
America
Central &
Latin
Mexico
1,000,000
America
Central &
Latin
Nicaragua
800,000
America
Central &
Latin
Panama
300,000
America
Central &
Latin
Paraguay
400,000
America
10
Central &
Latin
Peru
600,000
America
Central &
Latin
Salvador
700,000
America
Central &
Latin
Uruguay
500,000
America
20
SUB TOTAL
9,500,000
Sub total % of total CBSS
11%
ACP
Cuba
300,000
Caribbean
ACP
Dominican Republic
700,000
Caribbean
ACP
Guyana
300,000
Caribbean
ACP
Haiti
500,000
Caribbean
ACP
Jamaica
400,000
Caribbean
ACP
Trinidad and Tobago
100,000
Caribbean
Sub SUB TOTAL ACP
2,300,000
Caribbean
Sub total % of total CBSS
4%
ACP Angola
800,000
ACP Benin
900,000
ACP Burkina
Faso
1,000,000
ACP Burundi
1,000,000
ACP Cameroun
900,000
ACP Cap
Verde
300,000
ACP Comores
300,000
ACP Cote
d’Ivoire
1,000,000
ACP Congo
Brazzaville 700,000
ACP Djibouti
300,000
ACP DRC
1,500,000
ACP Eritrea
300,000
ACP Gabon
600,000
ACP Guinea
300,000
ACP Guinea
Equatoriale 300,000
ACP Kenya
900,000
ACP Lesotho
1,000,000
ACP Liberia
800,000
ACP Madagascar
1,300,000
ACP Mali
1,000,000
ACP Malawi
450,000
ACP Mauritanie
500,000
ACP Mauritius
100,000
11
ACP Mozambique
900,000
ACP Namibia
600,000
ACP Nigeria
600,000
ACP
Papua New Guinea
300,000
ACP RCA
600,000
ACP Rwanda
600,000
ACP Sao
Tome-et-Principe
100,000
ACP Senegal
600,000
ACP Seychelles
100,000
ACP Sierra
Leone
600,000
ACP Solomon
300,000
ACP Somalia
1,000,000
ACP South
Africa
600,000
ACP South
Sudan
1,000,000
ACP Sudan
1,000,000
ACP Tanzania
600,000
ACP Timor
Leste
600,000
ACP Togo
500,000
ACP Uganda
1,000,000
ACP Zambia
600,000
ACP Zimbabwe
900,000
SUB TOTAL ACP
31,650,000
sub total % of total CBSS
38%
Asia &
Afghanistan
800,000
Central Asia
Asia &
Bangladesh
800,000
Central Asia
Asia &
Burma/ Myanmar
800,000
Central Asia
Asia &
Cambodia
800,000
Central Asia
Asia &
China
1,000,000
Central Asia
Asia &
India
900,000
Central Asia
Asia &
Indonesia
800,000
Central Asia
Asia &
Kazakhstan
600,000
Central Asia
Asia &
Kyrgyzstan
800,000
Central Asia
Asia &
Laos
800,000
Central Asia
Asia &
Mongolia
300,000
Central Asia
Asia &
Nepal
500,000
Central Asia
Asia &
Pakistan
800,000
Central Asia
12
Asia &
Philippines
900,000
Central Asia
Asia &
Sri Lanka
1,000,000
Central Asia
Asia &
Tajikistan
1,000,000
Central Asia
Asia &
Thailand
300,000
Central Asia
Asia &
Uzbekistan
400,000
Central Asia
Asia &
Vietnam
900,000
Central Asia
ENPI Yemen
900,000
SUB TOTAL ASIA
15,100,000
sub total % of total CBSS
18%
All regions
TOTAL
82,750,000
* This designation is without prejudice on status, and is in line with the UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ
Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence
13
Document Outline